Inter-Island Flights in French Polynesia: Air Tahiti vs Air Moana
Organizing a trip to French Polynesia also means thinking about how to travel between islands, an essential point for building a coherent itinerary before booking accommodations or excursions. With dozens of islands spread across a vast territory, most travel is done by plane, which makes the choice of inter-island flights particularly important.
In this article, we’ll compare the two local airlines, Air Tahiti and Air Moana, and give you our best tips for finding the best flights at the best prices and help you choose among the available options.
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Comparison between Air Tahiti and Air Moana Airlines
First, we’ll present a concrete example to compare Air Tahiti and Air Moana rates by simulating an itinerary with and without a pass.
Next, we’ll detail our method for booking multi-destination flights on both airlines to build the most optimized itineraries without going through an inter-island pass.
Finally, we’ll review the different inter-island pass options offered by Air Tahiti and Air Moana, explaining their specificities, rules, and the main differences between them.
Dreaming of an unforgettable experience in Polynesia? Discover our complete article on the ideal itinerary for a 2 or 3-week trip in Society and Tuamotu islands.
Concrete Example: Air Tahiti vs Air Moana (typical itinerary simulation: Tahiti → Bora Bora → Raiatea → return to Tahiti)
We simulated a classic itinerary, Tahiti / Bora Bora / Raiatea / Tahiti, comparing two scenarios: individual tickets (multi-destination) and with a pass. Surprise: for this specific example, the prices with and without a pass are identical. In other words, the pass doesn’t always provide automatic savings, it all depends on the chosen flights and dates.
However, the real price difference lies between the companies: our simulation shows a significant price gap between Air Tahiti and Air Moana for these same routes. Concretely, if you visit the islands served by Air Moana (9 islands served), this company generally proves more advantageous in terms of price. Conversely, if your project includes islands not served by Air Moana, you won’t have a choice: you’ll need to go through Air Tahiti (48 islands served), which provides the most complete service across the archipelagos.
Getting Around the Islands of French Polynesia ? Check out our full article on Inter-island pass in Tahiti and islands.
Recommendation #1: Simulate multi-destination flights without an inter-island pass
1/ Start by comparing flights one by one on the two official websites: Air Tahiti and Air Moana. Check prices, schedules, durations, and any stopovers.
2/Next, create a small comparison table, just to see things more clearly: departure island, arrival island, available days, flight duration, price. This allows us to quickly spot inconsistencies or good opportunities.
3/Then, create a multi-destination booking with the flights that suit you, compare prices and alternatives, then book.
4/If you’re planning an itinerary of less than 20 days involving a loop through several islands and including islands known for frequent flight cancellations like Maupiti, we recommend going through a local travel agency. They handle the uncertainties and can modify an itinerary if a flight is canceled or moved at the last minute.
Opt for a cruise with Aranui: the cargo cruise that tours the Polynesian islands. Find our complete article on discovering Polynesia differently with Aranui.
Recommendation #2: Simulation of Air Tahiti Passes vs Air Moana Passes
Regarding the passes offered by Air Tahiti and Air Moana, there are several important elements to know before making your choice.
With Air Tahiti, passes are not flexible. To book them, you need to go to the Multi-destination section, then select the Pass category. The company offers several formulas: Discovery Pass, Bora Bora Pass, Maupiti Pass, Tuamotu Pass, Bora–Tuamotu Lite Pass, Bora–Tuamotu Max Pass, Australes Pass, or even Marquesas Pass.
The principle always remains the same: the trip must start in Tahiti, follow an imposed itinerary in the form of a loop, and end in Tahiti. This system allows you to chain several islands together but requires strictly respecting the structure of the chosen circuit.
Find our complete article on comparative car rental offers in Tahiti and Moorea.
On Air Moana’s side, the pass can also be booked directly online, but it’s only accessible to non-resident travelers (booking from outside Polynesia). Air Moana passes are more flexible than Air Tahiti’s: they allow you to compose your own route segments while respecting a loop operation.
Departure can be from either Tahiti or Moorea, provided you then continue the itinerary by chaining the islands in the logical order of the route.
It should also be noted that Air Moana passes are generally offered at a lower price than Air Tahiti’s, but with a much more limited offering, as Air Moana’s network is still restricted. The company serves significantly fewer destinations than Air Tahiti, which reduces possible combinations.
👉 If you’re wondering what to bring for your trip to Polynesia, check out our complete packing guide for Tahiti and Bora Bora with all the essentials you’ll need.
Don’t assume that the pass is always the best deal, systematically compare rates by company and pass vs. multi-destination options for your specific dates. And don’t forget, last tip: some local travel agencies have negotiated rates not accessible to the public.
If you have around 20 nights to spare, a fantastic option is to split your trip between land and sea. Spend 10 days on the islands of the Leeward group (Society Islands)
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FAQ: Air Tahiti vs Air Moana
What is the main difference between Air Tahiti and Air Moana?
➡️Air Tahiti is the historic company, very widely established in Polynesia, with a vast network covering 48 islands. Air Moana, more recent (created in 2022–2023), aims to offer more modern, competitive, and comfortable inter-island connections.
Does Air Moana really cost less than Air Tahiti?
➡️Yes, on certain competing routes, Air Moana advertises rates “10 to 25% cheaper” than Air Tahiti’s. However, this depends on dates, baggage class (Air Moana has rates without luggage, 15 kg, 23 kg), and available promotions.
Can you easily make a loop itinerary?
➡️Yes, but it requires good coordination. Some routes are not offered every day or only exist in one direction. Plan at least 4 nights per island to avoid scheduling constraints.
Why does a short flight sometimes cost more than a long flight?
➡️Prices are sometimes illogical because companies use a pricing system based on segments and integrated stopovers. Example: Moorea–Huahine can cost more than Tahiti–Huahine, even though it’s shorter.
What choice should I make between Air Tahiti and Air Moana according to my itinerary?
➡️If you’re visiting very well-served islands (Tahiti, Bora Bora, Raiatea, Moorea…), Air Moana can be very interesting for its rates and comfort.
But if you plan to go to less-served islands, or if you need more flexibility (wider network, more flights), Air Tahiti remains the essential solution.
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